Luminaire conforming accessory interface

ABSTRACT

A luminaire includes a housing containing a light emitter. A lens is connected to the housing. An accessory interface is connected to one of the lens or the housing. A control component is connected to the accessory interface. The accessory interface includes a shape conforming material configured to receive the control component and to eliminate discontinuities between the control component and the lens or housing.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/944,174 filed on April 3, 2018, which is based on U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/481,375, filed Apr. 4, 2017, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and to whichpriority is claimed.

FIELD

Various exemplary embodiments relate to luminaires and interfaces usedto connect accessory modules with a luminaire housing.

BACKGROUND

Luminaire based control components are increasingly used to providenetworking and automatic control of indoor and outdoor luminaires. Thesecontrol components can include drivers, sensors, and communicationsequipment integrated into or connected to a luminaire housing.Luminaire-based controls are capable are generating a greater level ofenergy savings by establishing a more granular level of demand-sidecontrol than typical room or area sensors.

The practice of integrating luminaire based controls often results in adisjointed appearance. Luminaire housing sizes, shapes, andconfigurations can be driven by industry standards or standard sizesassociated with legacy luminaires that were developed prior to the useof housing based controls. The same luminaire may also be used indifferent environments, resulting in different control components beingused with the same housings in different applications. Integrating orconnecting different control components into luminaire housings cantherefore result in the presence of gaps between mounting surfaces.Further, most luminaire surfaces are subject to manufacturing toleranceswhich can increase the disjointed appearance.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment, a luminaire includes a housingcontaining a light emitter. A lens is connected to the housing. Anaccessory interface is connected to one of the lens or the housing. Acontrol component is connected to the accessory interface. The accessoryinterface includes a shape conforming material configured to receive thecontrol component and to eliminate discontinuities between the controlcomponent and the lens or housing.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a luminaire includes a housingcontaining a light emitter. A lens is connected to the housing andincludes an opening. A control component extends through the lensopening. An accessory interface covers the lens opening. The accessoryinterface includes a shape conforming material.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a luminaire includes a housingcontaining a light emitter. A lens is connected to the housing. A sensorhas a first portion positioned inside of the lens and a second portionextending from the exterior of the lens. An accessory interface ispositioned between the first portion of the sensor and the secondportion of the sensor. The accessory interface includes a shapeconforming material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aspects and features of various exemplary embodiments will be moreapparent from the description of those exemplary embodiments taken withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first luminaire with an accessoryinterface;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second luminaire with an accessoryinterface;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third luminaire with an accessoryinterface;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a fourth luminaire with an accessoryinterface;

FIGS. 5-9 show various exemplary control components;

FIG. 10 is a top view of an exemplary accessory interface;

FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary luminaire with theaccessory interface of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, partial side view of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments are directed to a luminaire housing thatincludes an accessory interface. The accessory interface includes ashape-conforming material that can resilient deform capable of fillingin voids between a control component and a portion of a luminaire,resulting in a more uniform surface appearance. The accessory interfacecan also be used to connect a control component to a non-horizontalsurface while maintaining the control component in a horizontalorientation.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a luminairehaving a housing 10 and a lens 12 connected to the housing 10. Anaccessory interface 14 is connected to the lens 12. The accessoryinterface 14 is configured to receive a control component 16. Theaccessory interface 14 can surround an opening or aperture that providescommunication between the control component 16 and the interior of thehousing 10. The lens 12 is positioned over a light emitter 18.

The accessory interface 14 includes a shape-conforming material. Theshape-conforming material can include an elastic material and/or aviscoelastic material. The shape-conforming material can be capable ofdeforming around different size and shape control components toeliminate discontinuities and provide a more uniform exteriorappearance. In an exemplary embodiment the shape-conforming materialincludes silicone.

FIG. 2 shows another schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a luminairehaving a housing no and a lens 112 connected to the housing no. Anaccessory interface 114 is connected to the lens 112. The accessoryinterface 114 is configured to receive a control component 116. Theaccessory interface 114 includes a shape-conforming material. The lens112 includes one or more notches 118 formed in an exterior surface.

FIG. 3 shows another schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a luminairehaving a housing 210 and a lens 212 connected to the housing 210. Anaccessory interface 214 is connected to the lens housing 210. Theaccessory interface 214 is configured to receive a control component216. The accessory interface 214 includes a shape-conforming material.The housing 210 includes an angled wall 220, for example an interiorsurface of a reflector, that extends at a non-horizontal angle relativeto an area to be illuminated. The accessory interface 214 allows thecontrol component 216 to be mounted with a horizontal orientationrelative to the area. Maintaining the control component 216 in ahorizontal relationship can improve performance, ingress protectionrating, and/or aesthetics.

FIG. 4 shows another schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a luminairehaving a housing 310 and a lens 312 connected to the housing 310. Anaccessory interface 314 is connected to the lens housing 310. Theaccessory interface 314 is configured to receive a control component316. The accessory interface 314 includes a shape-conforming material.The housing 310 includes an angled wall 320 and a horizontal wall 322.The accessory interface 314 allows the control component 316 to bemounted with a horizontal orientation across the angled wall 320 and thehorizontal wall 322.

FIGS. 5-9 show examples of different control components that can beconnected to a luminaire. FIG. 5 shows a radio module 324 that is usedto provide communication between the luminaire and an externalcomponent, such as an external sensor or controller. FIG. 6 shows anexemplary embodiment of a first occupancy sensor 326. FIG. 7 shows anexemplary embodiment of a passive infrared sensor 328 configured todetect occupancy, read daylight levels, and provide communications withBluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices. FIG. 8 shows another exemplaryoccupancy sensor 330. FIG. 9 shows another exemplary occupancy sensor332 configured for use with high mount and outdoor configurations.Additional control components can be associated with the luminaire aswould be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an exemplary embodiment of an accessory interface400 having an outer edge 402 and an inner edge 404 defining an openinterior 406. The accessory interface 400 is depicted having a ringconfiguration, however other embodiments can utilize different any size,shape, or configuration. The accessory interface 400 includes ashape-conforming material. For example, the accessory interface includeslow-density polyethylene. FIGS. 12 and 13 show the accessory interface400 used in a luminaire 410. The luminaire 410 includes a housing havinga rear support 412 and a pair of end caps 414. A lens 416 is connectedto the housing. A sensor 418 is positioned in the housing and extendsthrough the lens 416. The accessory interface 400 is positioned betweenthe lens 416 and an exterior portion of the sensor 418. The lens 416 hasa convex curved outer surface and the accessory interface 400 ispartially compressed and conforms with the outer surface of the lens416.

The foregoing detailed description of the certain exemplary embodimentshas been provided for the purpose of explaining the principles of theinvention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilledin the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.This description is not necessarily intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the exemplary embodiments disclosed. Any of theembodiments and/or elements disclosed herein may be combined with oneanother to form various additional embodiments not specificallydisclosed. Accordingly, additional embodiments are possible and areintended to be encompassed within this specification and the scope ofthe appended claims. The specification describes specific examples toaccomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way.

As used in this application, the terms “front,” “rear,” “upper,”“lower,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and other orientational descriptorsare intended to facilitate the description of the exemplary embodimentsof the present invention, and are not intended to limit the structure ofthe exemplary embodiments of the present invention to any particularposition or orientation. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or“approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer toreasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, generaltolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of thedescribed embodiments.

What is claimed:
 1. A light fixture comprising: a luminaire enclosureincluding a housing and a lens connected to the housing; a light emitterpositioned in the housing and directed to emit light through the lens;an accessory interface having a shape conforming material extending fromthe luminaire enclosure; and a sensor module engaged with the accessoryinterface, wherein the sensor module controls one or more operations ofthe light emitter and the shape conforming material is configured toeliminate discontinuities between the sensor module and the luminaireenclosure.
 2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the shape conformingmaterial includes a viscoelastic material.
 3. The light fixture of claim1, wherein the accessory interface is connected to an angled wall of thehousing and is configured to provide a horizontal orientation to thesensor module.
 4. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the sensormodule includes an occupancy sensor, a light sensor, or a communicationmodule.
 5. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the accessory interfaceincludes low-density polyethylene.
 6. The light fixture of claim 1,wherein the sensor module extends through the lens and the accessoryinterface is positioned between the lens and an external portion of thesensor module.
 7. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the accessoryinterface has a ring configuration.
 8. A light fixture comprising: aluminaire enclosure including a housing and a lens connected to thehousing, the lens having an opening for receiving a sensor module; alight emitter positioned in the housing and directed to emit lightthrough the lens; a sensor module extending through the lens opening andoperatively connected to the light emitter; and an accessory interfacecovering the lens opening, wherein the accessory interface includes ashape conforming material configured to deform through engagement withthe sensor module to eliminate a visual gap between the sensor moduleand the lens.
 9. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the shapeconforming material includes a viscoelastic material.
 10. The lightfixture of claim 8, wherein the sensor module includes an occupancysensor, a light sensor, or a communication module.
 11. The light fixtureof claim 8, wherein the accessory interface includes low-densitypolyethylene.
 12. The light fixture of claim 8, wherein the accessoryinterface has a ring configuration.
 13. The light fixture of claim 8,wherein the lens includes a curved outer surface and the accessoryinterface conforms to the curved surface.
 14. The light fixture of claim13, wherein the curved outer surface includes a convex curve.
 15. Thelight fixture of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a rear supportand an end cap.
 16. A light fixture comprising: a luminaire enclosureincluding a housing and a lens connected to the housing; a sensor modulehaving a first portion positioned inside of the lens and a secondportion extending from the exterior of the lens, wherein the sensormodule is configured to control at least one operation of the lightemitter; and an accessory interface positioned between the first portionof the sensor and the second portion of the sensor, wherein theaccessory interface includes a shape conforming material.
 17. The lightfixture of claim 16, wherein the accessory interface is positionedbetween the lens and the second portion of the sensor.
 18. The lightfixture of claim 16, wherein the sensor module includes an occupancysensor.
 19. The light fixture of claim 16, wherein the accessoryinterface has an outer edge and an inner edge defining an opening forreceiving a portion of the sensor module.
 20. The light fixture of claim16, wherein the lens includes a curved outer surface and the accessoryinterface conforms to the curved surface to eliminate visual gapsbetween the lens and the control component.